Orange County News
For Immediate Release Contact: Ryan Greenbaum
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 845.615.3657, 845.415.0868c
District Attorney Hoovler Detail Prison Sentence in Assault Case
Defendant Sentenced to Maximum Permitted Sentence: 7 Years in Prison
Monroe Man Convicted After Trial of Assault in the Second Degree for Breaking Victim’s Jaw
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Monday, August 21, 2023, Michael Cowan, 37, of Newburgh, was sentenced in the Orange County Court to the maximum permitted sentence of seven (7) years in prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision in relation to his conviction after jury trial of Assault in the Second Degree.
During the trial prosecutors argued that on July 31, 2022, at approximately 9:30 pm, outside of a residence on Hidden Creek Boulevard, in the Village of Monroe, Cowan severely beat the man who lived in that residence. When a witness to the attack yelled at Cowan to stop beating the man while the victim was lying defenseless on the ground, Cowan fled, stating that he believed the man owed him money. The victim suffered serious physical injury as a result of the attack, including a broken jaw, which required multiple surgeries.
Village of Monroe Police Officers executed a search warrant at Cowan’s residence and recovered gloves which had what appeared to blood on them. At the trial prosecutors argued that DNA testing of those gloves, along with other evidence in the case, established that Cowan had worn the gloves during his attack of the victim.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Village of Monroe Police Department for their investigation and the arrest of Cowan.
“Violence is never the answer to settle disputes,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Repeat felony offenders, such as this one, deserve for their violent actions to be met with stern consequences. The maximum sentence imposed in this case was earned by this defendant’s criminal conduct. I commend the dedicated work of the police and prosecutors in this case that ensured a violent recidivist is no longer free to harm others.”
District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Assistant District Attorney Tanja Beemer and Assistant District Attorney Cassidy Turi, who prosecuted the case.
This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.